The following are frequently asked questions across the spectrum of issues related to The Life Initiative (TLI).

How does TLI directly serve families?

TLI supports women and men with unexpected pregnancies connecting them to resources available through Watermark Community Church (i.e. marriage preparation and restoration, financial management, housing and transportation resources, etc.). Some of these services are provided directly through ministries of Watermark, and others are associated with ministry partners or other services in the community available to families.

What do you say to someone considering abortion?

The decision to abort is often made within a short window of time. Therefore, what you say and don’t say matters. Affirm the feelings of regret, judgment, isolation, uncertainty, and fear are real, but those feelings are not reliable. Speak truth gently, and remind them of God’s great love for them. Encourage them that while the pregnancy may be unexpected, it is not ‘unexpected’ to God. He works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and devises ways to restore you to Himself (2 Samuel 14:14). Using the encouragement of God’s Word as your guide, give them a bold and confident vision for what the Lord can do in their life and the life of their preborn child. If you can sincerely follow through on supporting them if they choose to parent or place for adoption, share your support. AbortionFacts.com provides some simple-to-follow talking points if you need a quick resource.

What are the facts about abortion?

Abortion is the elective procedure to end the life of a developing human in a woman’s uterus. Over 60 million abortions have occurred in the United States since the legalization of abortion in 1973. Abortions are legal until 20-24 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the laws of the state. Four types of abortions are performed, each depending on how developed the embryo or fetus is. Visit AbortionProcedures.com to learn more. According to the British Journal of Psychiatry, “abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure”. (source)

How can I support legislation and policies that affirm life and women’s health?

The Guttmacher Institute published a comprehensive database regarding the laws on abortion for each State which can be found here. The variation in laws mostly involve when an abortion can take place (at 20 or 24 weeks of pregnancy), where an abortion can be administered, consent for a minor, and funding of abortions.

What is the SLED argument against abortion?

SLED is an acronym for size, level of development, environment, and degree of dependency. Each aspect represents a counter argument to common issues justifying abortion. A simple explanation of each point follows:

We do not justify terminating the life of an individual based upon how small or large the human being is. Therefore, abortion cannot be justified based on how small a developing human might be.

There are many stages of development for every human being. We all begin as a fertilized egg and develop into an embryo, fetus, infant, toddler, child, teenager, young adult, and adult. At no point in our development are we any less human, and therefore, any less valuable simply because we are not fully developed adults.

The environment where a human being exists, regardless of their size or level of development, also does not contribute to how human they are or what value they have. A fetus is no less human than a newborn infant simply because it travels six inches through the birth canal.

Our degree of dependency cannot determine our humanity or value either. Infants as well as the elderly require varying degrees of dependency, and we universally reject terminating their lives due to the inconvenience they place on their caretakers.

Collectively, the SLED argument provides a simple framework for advocates to think and articulate logically about abortion.